Aaack! You caught us with our pants down! Here we are, tinkering with the servers and you show up. How awkward! Try back in just a couple of minutes. In the meantime, a few tidbits ...

Hugelkultur, meaning "hill culture" in German, is a sustainable gardening method that involves creating raised garden beds by burying wood under soil. This technique, described as "soil on wood," uses logs, branches, twigs, and even whole trees, which decompose and act as "a sponge to hold water". The decomposition process attracts beneficial microorganisms, creates air pockets, and releases nutrients, resulting in fertile soil that reduces or eliminates the need for irrigation and fertilization. Hugelkultur is a versatile technique that can be implemented on a small scale or on a large scale, even spanning nearly a kilometer. By utilizing wood that would otherwise be discarded, hugelkultur promotes environmental sustainability and aligns with permaculture principles, allowing gardeners to "grow a typical garden without irrigation or fertilization"

A berm shed, as detailed in the sources, is an innovative and sustainable approach to building storage structures. It seamlessly integrates with the landscape, offering both aesthetic and functional benefits. Constructed using natural building techniques and readily available materials like logs and earth, a berm shed minimizes both environmental impact and construction costs. Its defining feature is the sloping roof covered with soil, forming a natural berm that provides excellent insulation and temperature regulation. The construction often employs round wood timber framing techniques, utilizing logs instead of dimensional lumber, which further enhances its sustainability and rustic appeal. Earthworks, carefully shaping the land to create the berm and ensure proper drainage, play a crucial role in its construction. The berm shed aligns perfectly with permaculture principles, serving as a visual and sound barrier, increasing privacy, and potentially even creating a microclimate beneficial for plant growth around the structure. This unique design, combining natural materials and earth-sheltering principles, offers a durable, cost-effective, and visually appealing storage solution that blends harmoniously with its surroundings.

"HUSP," an acronym for "Horticulture of the United States of Pocahontas," is a term coined by Paul Wheaton to explore a fictional scenario where Native American agricultural practices, similar to permaculture, dominated the United States. This concept envisions an alternate history where Pocahontas, depicted as a brilliant strategist, prevents European colonization, leading to the establishment of the United States of Pocahontas (USP). Within this fictional nation, agricultural practices prioritize respect for the Earth, rejecting destructive methods like plowing and the use of petroleum-based fertilizers and pesticides. HUSP speculates on the potential for superior agricultural output and societal well-being through these nature-centric methods. Wheaton uses the HUSP concept to inspire innovation and advancement within the existing permaculture community, aiming to accelerate progress towards more sustainable and effective food production systems. He proposes a collaborative project involving practitioners of various agricultural approaches, including permaculture, biodynamic, and native plant specialists, working on a 2000-acre plot divided into smaller chunks. This project aims to foster knowledge exchange and accelerate the development of HUSP principles in the real world.